"Ah... ah..."
The Dragon Master's mouth hung agape, his jaw practically unhinged. He pointed a trembling finger at the two newborns, then swiveled his head to stare at Fu Zhu, completely unable to form a coherent sentence.
Fu Zhu glanced at him. Seeing the Dragon Master's reaction, he understood that the birth of new life was a world-shaking event for the sterile Vidyadhara. Thanks to Aha's help, he was truly about to become famous on the Luofu, and perhaps throughout the entire Xianzhou Alliance.
Fu Zhu sighed and returned to his seat, mentally calculating. He needed to resolve this disturbance from the TNT duplicator and Dan Heng's request to see Bailu, and then get out of the Scalegorge Waterscape as fast as possible.
The longer he stayed, the more troublesome things would become.
Fu Zhu had intended to drink some tea to calm his nerves, but when he picked up his cup, he found it was already empty. He could only set it back down with a sense of resignation.
The Dragon Master, who had been staring in a daze, drool practically leaking from his mouth, snapped to attention at the sight. He immediately closed his mouth, the look of shock on his face vanishing without a trace. Pointing at Fu Zhu's empty cup, he turned and barked at Huanxi.
"What are you doing! Didn't you see our guest's cup is empty? Pour the tea! Pour the good tea!"
"Yes!"
Huanxi, startled back to her senses, scurried away to prepare the tea. A moment later, she returned with a brand-new pot and refilled the cups for Fu Zhu and Dan Heng.
Fu Zhu took a light sip. This tea was a world apart from the previous brew; its color, aroma, and flavor were on a completely different level. It was, just as the Dragon Master had ordered, the good tea.
The Dragon Master was now beaming as he approached Fu Zhu's side, standing with a slight bow. Gone was his earlier severity; he now looked more like a veteran butler who had served others for many years.
"For Lord Fu Zhu to grace the Scalegorge Waterscape with his presence today, it truly makes our humble abode shine."
This sudden, drastic shift in attitude left Fu Zhu and Dan Heng speechless. Just moments ago, the man had been wearing a face like thunder.
Not wanting to linger, Fu Zhu got straight to the point. "Ahem. I came to the Scalegorge Waterscape today specifically to apologize for the disturbance caused by the TNT duplicator's bombardment. Please accept this small, insignificant token of my apology."
Fu Zhu took out the batch of Scalegorge Waterscape corals he had purchased, along with the few MC Corals he had converted. He offered them to the Dragon Master. There weren't many MC Corals—including the six consumed earlier, the total was only twenty-four.
This was what Fu Zhu had intended to give as an apology gift from the start. Even though he had now discovered the special properties of the MC Coral, he didn't secretly hold them back. He wasn't that petty. Besides, the remaining coral was only enough to produce nine more Vidyadhara newborns.
When the Dragon Master saw the corals Fu Zhu offered, his breathing grew heavy. He had seen it with his own eyes—Fu Zhu had fed this slightly different-looking coral to that pair, and they subsequently gave birth to two new lives!
"This... this gift is far too precious! I... I really couldn't possibly accept it!"
Though his words were modest, the Dragon Master's hand couldn't help but reach for the corals Fu Zhu held out. But in the next second, Fu Zhu retracted his hand, pulling the corals back with it.
"You can't accept it? Well, in that case, I'll prepare a gift you're more willing to accept next time. It's tiring to hold this out, anyway."
Fu Zhu casually placed the corals on the table beside him, a faint, teasing smile on his face as he watched the Dragon Master.
Seeing Fu Zhu take the corals back, the Dragon Master's old face instantly flushed the color of pig's liver. It took him a long moment to recover, though his eyes remained glued to the corals on the table.
"I was just joking with you, Dragon Master. If I were to actually take this small gift back, it would be truly impolite of me."
He was just teasing the old man. If he really took them back, he would just look stingy. It was just a few pieces of coral; he wasn't shameless enough to reclaim them.
Fu Zhu offered the corals again. This time, the Dragon Master said nothing, his hand shooting out to quickly take them. He clutched them to his chest, only then letting out a long sigh of relief.
Breathing a sigh of relief while cradling the corals, the Dragon Master noticed Fu Zhu's teasing gaze on him. He couldn't help but blush, clearing his throat before waving Huanxi over and solemnly handing the corals to her.
"Store these corals properly! If even a single piece is lost, I will hold you solely responsible!"
"Yes, Dragon Master."
After sending her away, the Dragon Master finally turned back, his gaze on Fu Zhu filled with warmth. He even bent his body slightly so that the seated Fu Zhu could meet his gaze on the same level.
"Lord Fu Zhu is too kind! What disturbance? That was just some of our clan's ignorant young ones making a fuss. They think any little noise is a disturbance. They truly lack discipline! I will be sure to educate them thoroughly later!"
Fu Zhu just gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes and took another sip of tea.
Seeing that Fu Zhu seemed to have said his piece, the Dragon Master tentatively asked, "Lord Fu Zhu, how did you cause my Vidyadhara clan to..."
Fu Zhu suddenly raised a hand, cutting him off. "By the way, besides the matter of the TNT duplicator, my friend here also came to the Scalegorge Waterscape on some business."
Fu Zhu turned to Dan Heng, gesturing for him to speak.
Dan Heng nodded and addressed the Dragon Master. "Dragon Master, I have previously communicated with the Vidyadhara about arranging a meeting with Lady Dragon. I was wondering if it is possible for me to see her now?"
"You wish to see the Lady Dragon?" The Dragon Master glanced at Dan Heng, his previously amiable expression instantly reverting to the cold, severe mask from before. "Dan Feng, you..."
"Ahem!!!"
Fu Zhu coughed loudly, his narrowed eyes fixed on the Dragon Master as he spoke slowly. "My friend's name is Dan Heng, not Dan Feng. Dragon Master, you couldn't possibly be getting senile, could you? How could you mistake someone's name?"
The Dragon Master's expression changed again. His old face twisted for a moment before melting into an obsequious smile. He bowed repeatedly to Fu Zhu.
"Look at my memory! Ah, I'm getting old. Not only is my memory failing, but my eyesight is going too. My apologies, Mr. Dan Heng, I mistook you for someone else. The Lady Dragon, you say? I'll go get her right away. Please excuse me for a moment."
The Dragon Master bowed deeply to Fu Zhu. It was a mystery how a man his age could bend his waist so low, nearly a full 90 degrees.
Watching the Dragon Master depart, Fu Zhu couldn't help but click his tongue, muttering to Dan Heng beside him. "Arrogant before, deferential after. Dan Heng, were these guys always like this when you were on the Luofu?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "Other Vidyadhara undergo a process of rebirth and are assigned a mentor to guide their education and memories. But from the moment of my rebirth, I was locked away in the Shackling Prison. I do not know if they have always been this way."
Hearing this, Fu Zhu's brow furrowed.
He didn't know Dan Heng's exact age, but whether for a long-life species or a short-life one, being imprisoned from the moment of birth was an exceptionally cruel fate.
"Tsk, it seems most of the people in the Vidyadhara are no good. And these Dragon Masters are still after that Marvelous Method of Dragon Transformation you possess."
Dan Heng nodded, his heart agreeing with Fu Zhu's sentiment.
If he hadn't happened to meet Fu Zhu today and travel with him, and if Fu Zhu hadn't just demonstrated such a miraculous ability, his visit to see the Lady Dragon would likely have been far more difficult. The Dragon Masters would have undoubtedly continued to make trouble for him.
"Fu Zhu, thank you for today."
Hearing Dan Heng suddenly speak with such a gentle tone, Fu Zhu couldn't help but shudder. He shot him an irritated glance and rolled his eyes.
"What's with all the 'thank yous' between us? You're giving me goosebumps. You might as well just say, 'Come on, I'll treat you to some barbecue.'"
Dan Heng smiled and nodded. "Alright, I'll remember that. I'll treat you to barbecue tonight. We can invite March and the others, too."
"You said it, I'll hold you to it."
As the two were chatting, both their phones buzzed. They exchanged a puzzled look, then pulled them out. A message had arrived in the "Loving Family" group chat.
[Xing: @Fu Zhu @Dan Heng, which one of you two secretly got a Vidyadhara partner! And you didn't even tell us you had a kid!]
[March 7th: Stay calm, Xing! In any case, we should... we should plan the full-moon feast first?]
Fu Zhu stared at his phone, a question mark floating over his head. What were these two talking about in the group chat? Dan Heng has a partner? How come he didn't know?
He turned to Dan Heng. "You got a girlfriend before I did?!"
Dan Heng rolled his eyes wordlessly. "I already told you, I was imprisoned in the Shackling Prison from rebirth, then exiled, where I immediately met the Astral Express. I have not had any contact with any Vidyadhara in that time."
"Then what are they talking about..."
[Fu Zhu: What nonsense are you two talking about?]
[Xing: [Forwarded Message]]
Xing forwarded a news link. Fu Zhu and Dan Heng immediately tapped on it, and the headline alone left them both stunned.
[Shocking! A Nameless Guest Has Caused the Vidyadhara to Give Birth to Newborns!]
"THAT DAMN AHA!!!"
The moment Fu Zhu saw the headline, he knew exactly who was behind this. It was Aha's doing! So when she said she would help him become famous and publish news, she was being serious!
Immediately after, Jing Yuan's call came through. Fu Zhu quickly answered it.
"Fu Zhu, did you see the news?"
"I saw it."
Jing Yuan's voice on the other end was laced with confusion and seriousness. "Is it real or fake? I've already had people try to suppress the story, but I don't know who published it. They've hacked into all of the Luofu's networks, and it's proving difficult to take down."
Fu Zhu sighed helplessly. "Although I don't know how you guessed it was me, the matter is indeed true."
"What?!"
Even with Jing Yuan's legendary composure, hearing this confirmation from Fu Zhu's own mouth made him slam his hand on his desk. He quickly remembered he was on the phone and sat back down, only to shoot right back up a second later.
If Fu Zhu truly had the ability to allow the sterile Vidyadhara to give birth to new life, then this wasn't the time for a phone call!
If this news got out, the chaos it would stir up would be no less than the Phantylia crisis!
Realizing the full implications, Jing Yuan's voice became stern as he pressed, "Fu Zhu, where are you right now!"
Please don't be in the Scalegorge Waterscape, Fu Zhu!
"I'm with Dan Heng in the Scalegorge Waterscape."
Dammit!
Jing Yuan rubbed his temples, which were starting to ache. He let out a long sigh and said, "I'm on my way."
With that, Jing Yuan hung up. The moment he did, his phone rang again.
Jing Yuan glanced at the caller ID, and his pupils contracted.
The call was from a general of another Xianzhou ship, the Fanghu. This general was also a Vidyadhara Dragon Sovereign of another lineage, Xuan Quan, also known as Hanyuan-jun.
Seeing this man's name, Jing Yuan felt a headache coming on.
"Trouble never comes alone. It seems this news has spread much faster than I imagined. It's already reached the Xianzhou Fanghu? What kind of enemy has Fu Zhu made this time? Ai..."
Sighing helplessly, Jing Yuan could only answer the call while rushing towards the Scalegorge Waterscape.
...
Fu Zhu stared at the disconnected call and sighed. He then opened his [Inventory] and began organizing his gear, moving all necessary combat items into his hotbar for immediate use.
From Jing Yuan's tone, the Vidyadhara's obsession with procreation was no small matter. To prevent them from trying to forcibly keep him here, he needed to prepare a few things.
His own personal strength wasn't enough. Before he could display overwhelming combat power, the Vidyadhara wouldn't be afraid of him. He needed to get a powerful entity to back him up, someone who could at least make the Vidyadhara hesitate.
Jing Yuan, while the General of the Luofu and an Emanator, might not be enough to deter a Vidyadhara clan that had lost its reason over the prospect of procreation.
Fu Zhu rubbed his temples, muttering to himself, "Looks like I'll have to figure out a way to summon my ace in the hole. Surely this bunch of Vidyadhara wouldn't be fearless enough to defy an Aeon, right?"
"Fu Zhu, what are you muttering about?" Dan Heng's voice came from the side.
Fu Zhu snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "It's nothing. Jing Yuan just called. He said he's coming to the Scalegorge Waterscape too and told us to wait for him here."
Hearing this, Dan Heng immediately realized the gravity of the situation. He frowned. "In that case, I'll have Himeko prepare the Express for departure. We can leave at any time."
"No rush. Even if we leave now, the trouble will still find us. We might as well resolve it here and now."
Fu Zhu already had a plan forming in his mind. If one Emanator wasn't enough to intimidate them, then he would just add an Aeon to the mix.
He just needed to buy himself one or two months to develop his power, and then he wouldn't have to worry about what schemes this group of Vidyadhara could cook up.
After a short while, the Dragon Master returned with Bailu. Trailing behind them was a procession of Vidyadhara women of various stunning beauties. Though they all looked different, every single one of them was a peerless beauty.
"Lord Fu Zhu, Mr. Dan Heng, I've made you wait."